Pre-Medicine (Pre-Med) Requirements

The following requirements and recommendations are for the University of Kansas School of Medicine. In addition to the required courses, an applicant must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. The bachelor's degree can be in any discipline (for example, biochemistry). Other medical schools have similar requirements, but inquiry should be made by the junior year to ensure compliance.

Requirements

Washburn Courses

General Chemistry (2 semesters with labs)

CH 151 Fundamentals of Chemistry I (5)

CH 152 Fundamentals of Chemistry II (5)

Organic Chemistry (2 semesters with labs)

CH 340 / 342 Organic Chemistry I / Lab (5)

CH 341 / 343 Organic Chemistry II / Lab (5)

Biology (2 semesters with labs)

BI 102 General Cellular Biology (5)

BI 103 General Organismal Biology (5)

or BI 255 Human Physiology (4)

Physics (2 semesters with labs)

PS 261 College Physics I (5)

PS 262 College Physics II (5)

or

PS 281 General Physics I (5)

PS 282 General Physics II (5)

Mathematics (1 semester)

[college-level algebra or above]

MA 151 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (5)

or MA 140 Statistics (3)

English (2 semesters)

EN 101 Freshman Composition (3)

EN 300 Advanced Composition (3)

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required of all applicants. To be better prepared for the MCAT, premedical students should also take Biochemistry I (CH 350), Basic Concepts in Psychology (PY 100), and Introduction to Sociology (SO 100), in addition to the courses listed above.

A general understanding of health care and medicine, based upon employment, volunteer and shadowing experiences, is also expected.

Premedical students are encouraged to take some of the following highly recommended courses:

What's an Ichabod?

Washburn's mascot, the Ichabod, honors the school's early benefactor, Ichabod Washburn, a 19th century Massachusetts industrialist. The original design of the studious-looking, tuxedo-clad figure was created in 1938 by Bradbury Thompson (ba '34), who became an internationally acclaimed graphic artist. Design wasn't Thompson's only consideration. To the stylized Ichabod the artist attributed the qualities of "...courage and enthusiasm, as shown by his brisk walk. He is democratic and courteous, for he tips his hat as he passes. Sincere in his search for truth and knowledge, he studiously carries a book under his arm..."